Concerning the impropriety of the disciple's (muríd) presuming to do the same things as are done by the saint (walí), inasmuch as sweetmeat does no harm to the physician, but is harmful to the sick, and frost and snow do no harm to the ripe grape, but are injurious to the young fruit; for he (the disciple) is (still) on the way, for he has not (yet) become (the saint to whom are applicable the words in the Qur’án): “That God may forgive thee thy former and latter sins.”

گر ولی زهری خورد نوشی شود ** ور خورد طالب سیه هوشی شود

If the saint drinks a poison it becomes an antidote, but if the seeker (disciple) drinks it, his mind is darkened.

رب هب لی از سلیمان آمده ست ** که مده غیر مرا این ملک و دست‌‌

From Solomon have come the words, “O Lord, give me (a kingdom that it behoves not any one after me to obtain),” that is, “do not give this kingdom and power to any but me.

تو مکن با غیر من این لطف و جود ** این حسد را ماند اما آن نبود2605

Do not bestow this grace and bounty on any but me.” This looks like envy, but it was not that (in reality).

نکته‌‌ی لا ينبغی می‌‌خوان به جان ** سر من بعدی ز بخل او مدان‌‌

Read with your soul the mystery of “it behoves not,” do not deem the inward meaning of “after me” (to be derived) from his (Solomon's) avarice.

بلکه اندر ملک دید او صد خطر ** مو به مو ملک جهان بد بیم سر

Nay, but in sovereignty he saw a hundred dangers: the kingdom of this world was (has ever been), hair by hair (in every respect), fear for one's head.

بیم سر با بیم سر با بیم دین ** امتحانی نیست ما را مثل این‌‌

Fear for head with fear for heart with fear for religion— there is no trial for us like this.

پس سلیمان همتی باید که او ** بگذرد زین صد هزاران رنگ و بو

Therefore one must needs possess the high aspiration of a Solomon in order to escape from these myriads of colours and perfumes (enticing vanities).

با چنان قوت که او را بود هم ** موج آن ملکش فرومی‌‌بست دم‌‌2610

Even with such (great) strength (of spirit) as he had, the waves of that (worldly) kingdom were stifling his breath (choking him).

چون بر او بنشست زین اندوه گرد ** بر همه شاهان عالم رحم کرد

Since dust settled on him from this sorrow, he had compassion for all the kings of the world.

شد شفیع و گفت این ملک و لوا ** با کمالی ده که دادی مر مرا

He interceded (with God on their behalf) and said, “Give this kingdom and banner (to them) with (accompanied by) the (spiritual) perfection which Thou hast given to me.

هر که را بدهی و بکنی آن کرم ** او سلیمان است و آن کس هم منم‌‌

To whomsoever Thou wilt give (it), and (on whomsoever) Thou wilt confer that bounty, he (that person) is Solomon, and I also am he.

او نباشد بعدی او باشد معی ** خود معی چه بود منم بی‌‌مدعی‌‌

He is not ‘after me,’ he is with me. What of ‘with me,’ indeed? I am without rival.”

شرح این فرض است گفتن لیک من ** باز می‌‌گردم به قصه‌‌ی مرد و زن‌‌2615

’Tis my duty to explain this, but (now) I will return to the story of the man and wife.

مخلص ماجرای عرب و جفت او

The moral of the altercation of the Arab and his wife.

ماجرای مرد و زن را مخلصی ** باز می‌‌جوید درون مخلصی‌‌

The heart of one who is sincere is seeking (to find) a moral for the altercation of the man and wife.

ماجرای مرد و زن افتاد نقل ** آن مثال نفس خود می‌‌دان و عقل‌‌

The altercation of the man and wife has been related (as a story): know that it is a parable of your own flesh (nafs) and reason.

این زن و مردی که نفس است و خرد ** نیک بایسته ست بهر نیک و بد

This man and wife, which are the flesh and the reason, are very necessary for (the manifestation of) good and evil;

وین دو بایسته در این خاکی سرا ** روز و شب در جنگ و اندر ماجرا

And this necessary pair in this house of earth are (engaged) in strife and altercation day and night.

زن همی‌‌خواهد هویج خانگاه ** یعنی آب رو و نان و خوان و جاه‌‌2620

The wife is craving requisites for the household, that is to say, reputation and bread and viands and rank.

نفس همچون زن پی چاره‌‌گری ** گاه خاکی گاه جوید سروری‌‌

Like the wife, the flesh, in order to contrive the means (of gratifying its desires), is at one time seeking (having recourse to) humility and at another time to domination.

عقل خود زین فکرها آگاه نیست ** در دماغش جز غم الله نیست‌‌

The reason is really unconscious of these (worldly) thoughts: in its brain is nothing but love of God.

گر چه سر قصه این دانه ست و دام ** صورت قصه شنو اکنون تمام‌‌

Although the inner meaning of the tale is this bait and trap, listen now to the outward form of the tale in its entirety.

گر بیان معنوی کافی شدی ** خلق عالم عاطل و باطل بدی‌‌

If the spiritual explanation were sufficient, the creation of the world would have been vain and idle.

گر محبت فکرت و معنیستی ** صورت روزه و نمازت نیستی‌‌2625

If love were (only spiritual) thought and reality, the form of your fasting and prayer would be non-existent.

هدیه‌‌های دوستان با همدیگر ** نیست اندر دوستی الا صور

The gifts of lovers to one another are, in respect of love, naught but forms;